Maryland
Physical Education Teacher Programs

(found programs from 7 schools)

Perhaps you excelled in a sport in high school and college, and you're ready to teach your love of athletics to a new generation. Maybe you have personally seen how physical health can completely change a student's school experience for the better.

Regardless of why you love physical education, when it comes to PE teacher degrees, Maryland schools offer the hands-on training and theory education you need to succeed.

Education is the most important component of this field, as you must be well-versed in general education theory and physical education theory before you can work independently with students.

Role of Educators with a Physical Education Degree in Maryland

The work you do as a physical education teacher can improve the lives of students and help other teachers make the most of their classroom time. Get more information now by contacting Maryland teaching schools below.

As an aspiring gym teacher, you can take advantage of training opportunities and networking events to jumpstart your career. Furthermore, getting involved in local groups gives you a good sense of the value of physical education, the goals of this field, and how you can contribute to a stronger school system.

The Maryland Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance is a large, program-based group that brings together teachers from different physical activity specialties. The mission of this group is to promote health and wellness in Maryland, unify health and physical education, and advance this field of teaching. In the long-term, the group hopes to make Maryland healthier, more creative, and more physically active. They run a number of programs that keep kids engaged in fitness activities and get parents involved.

Earning a degree in physical education should be your first priority if you want to get started in this field. Learn how to become a PE teacher by requesting information from the schools below.

Getting Your Physical Education Degree in Maryland

Many fields of study are subject to oversight across the country, and education is one of the most tightly regulated fields. To become a teacher, you must be ready to meet extensive training requirements, pass a number of assessments and exams, and prove that you can safely work in Maryland classrooms. The main priority is getting a degree from an accredited, approved university or college. Colleges that have been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education meet the legal licensing requirements for teachers and offer high-quality training to aspiring teachers.

The path you take to become a teacher depends on how much training you already have. If this is your first degree, you should plan on earning a Bachelor's degree in physical education. This option is very straightforward. Over a period of four years, you earn 120 credits. These credits include general education courses across many different subjects, education theory classes, and field experience courses.

By the time you graduate, you should be ready to pass the licensing exams required in Maryland. If you already have a Bachelor's degree, you may look into a Master's degree program or an alternative certification program. These options may save you time and help you get into the classroom sooner.

If you decide to go the Bachelor's degree route, plan on getting a comprehensive education in the field of teaching. Some of the courses you may be required to take include:

Foundations of Education and Teaching

Principles of Physical Education

Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries

Measurement and Evaluation

Physiology of Exercise

Adapted Physical education

Kinesiology

Organization and Administration of Physical Education

Movement Education

Perceptual Motor Development

Teaching Physical Education in Elementary School

Teaching Physical Education in Secondary School

Clearly, the goal of this degree is to prepare you to teach in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Although field experience is required throughout the degree, your most critical assessment comes in your final semester of college.

Your student teaching semester requires you to be in the classroom for over 40 hours per week, learning how to connect with students, collaborate with teachers, and manage your time. Since Maryland licensure allows you to work at all grade levels, your student teaching experience should give you the chance to work with classes from different grades.

Once your physical education degree is complete, you can move right on to the next licensing step. You submit your licensing documents to the Maryland State Department of Education. They require you to pass the Praxis II Physical Education Content and Knowledge exam.

Student teaching is not only valuable for the hands-on experience you get. It also shows you what the field of physical education is really all about. Spending that much time in a real school shows you how gym classes fit into children's schedules, what benefits they have for other teachers, and how physical education contributes to a stronger school experience for children of all ages.

If you're ready to get started in this exciting and meaningful field, use the list of Maryland schools below to contact schools near you.

Working with a Physical Education Degree in Maryland

Teaching can be a demanding, challenging, and incredibly exciting field. The first one or two years of your career may be spent finding your footing, as you must be able to balance class time, teacher collaboration, parent communication, and paperwork.

Maryland utilizes the National Standards for Physical Education in their expectations for gym teachers, and they are a helpful guideline for the work you do. In general, your classes should help students become competent in motor skills and movement patterns, develop a knowledge of athletic principles and tactics, encourage students to engage in physical activity on a daily basis, and show students how to value their health.

In Maryland, the outlook for teachers is encouraging. Between 2012 and 2022, job openings for both elementary school teachers and secondary school teachers are expected to increase 7% (O*Net, 2016). Additionally, Maryland salaries are often higher than national averages. The average salary for a Maryland elementary school teacher is $63,750 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Those who work in secondary schools earn an average of $66,080 per year (BLS, 2016).

Are you ready to change the future of education in Maryland? If you are, get more information on PE teacher courses below.